IS ALBANIA SAFE?

You’re a bit sceptical. You wonder, is it safe? Isn’t it like a closed-off ex-communist country? With ruthless mobsters in old Mercedes?

Well, the truth is – no. It’s not.

While you’re right about the Mercedes part (they’ve got a gazillion), and that it was closed-off some 20 years ago, Albania is certainly safe to visit. Driving is crazy (I’ll elaborate soon), but pickpocketing and random acts of violence are extremely uncommon.

In my limited time there, I found the people to be overall friendly and welcoming, particularly in Gjirokastër. And like I’ve said so many times before, I feel safer in the Balkans than most other countries in Europe.

Theo making new friends

ALBANIA BEACHES

Back to the beaches. Let’s take a look at where to find them.

The Albanian Riviera is in the south of Albania, extending from Ksamil in the south to Vlorë in the north. The only cities along the riviera are Vlorë, Himarë and Sarandë, but there are several small villages along the road.

And you know what? This drive is one of the most stunning. Trust me on this. You’ll be glued to the window all the way.

Plazhi = “beach” in Albanian

Right?

HOW TO GET TO AND AROUND THE ALBANIAN RIVIERA

So, let’s say you decide to visit Albania. Should you just book flights and get cracking?

Actually— no.

You need to do some planning ahead.

Since Albania was closed-off for many years, they’ve got a little catching up to do – especially when it comes to infrastructure and maintenance. Even if you follow the coast road, which is the newest, you’ll encounter huge potholes, unpaved roads and more of less every farm animal you can imagine. It’s an adventure alright.

How to get to the Riviera
You have two options:

Fly to Tirana and go from there. It will take you five hours drive to Sarande if you rent a car, or by what sounds like terrible public transport anywhere between 6 and 9 hours.

Fly to Corfu (Greece) and take a 30-min ferry to Sarandë. This is the easiest and what we did.

How to get around
Again, you have two ways of exploring the Albanian riviera:

Public transportation (mini busses)

Rent a car (what we did)

Getting around is not the easiest because public transportation doesn’t always have a set schedule. So bottomline: You’ll need a car, or lots of patience for public transport, to really see the riviera.

CAR RENTAL IN ALBANIA

If you’re coming from Corfu, the easiest would be to take the ferry to Sarandë and pick up your car there. We rented a car through Sixt, because they got the best prices and really great support. The local Sixt man met us at the centre, right next to the port. In fact, you can save 10% on car rental in Albania with this link.

Easy, peasy.

Our rental car

1. KSAMIL BEACH, ALBANIA

Tropical beach

Ksamil is a small village south of Sarandë with several little beaches and coves. The three islands in its turquoise bay are an easy swim or boat ride away. Ksamil can get really crowded in summer, particularly August, so go for June and September instead. The best beaches in Ksamil are Bora Bora and Lori beach.

Ksamil Hotels

There aren’t any luxurious hotels in Ksamil, which is why many visitors choose to base themselves in Sarandë. Mostly you’ll find apartments and houses – like this one:

Villa A & A – Those cheap Albanian prices ($33 per night) makes this villa a bargain! It has an amazing view of the beach and islands, and the interior is modern! Click here to see the latest prices.

2. PASQYRAVE (MIRROR) BEACH

Hidden beach

Pasqyrave or Mirror beach is located between Sarandë and Ksamil. It’s a bit off-road with a small steep gravel road leading up a hill side. The beach is located on the other side of the hill and not visible from the road. There aren’t any signs so you’ll need to use Google Maps.

3. SARANDE

“Big” city beaches

Sarandë is the unofficial capital of the riviera and the port to Greece. The town itself is relatively bland and beaches aren’t the best. Sarandë does however have a nice esplanade with some great restaurants and bars. And it’s a great place to use as a base for visiting Butrint National Park, Ksamil, The Blue Eye and Gjirokastër. And the rest of the riviera, of course.

Sarandë Hotels

White Residence Apartments is my favorite place in Sarandë. I loved how super luxurious and neat is was – and that view! It’s located 15 mins walk from the centre, but there are restaurants and supermarkets nearby. Click here to see the latest prices.

Bougainville Hotel is another great pick. This hotel is really unique with super cool rooms and several pools (incl. infinity pool with seaside and sunset view). Service is amazing and food is great, too. I’d definitely come back.Click here to see the latest prices.

4. BORSH BEACH

The longest beach

Borsh beach is 7 km long, which makes it the longest beach in Albania. It’s also one of the least visited beaches in the country. Listen to the waves and sleep away the day on a lounge chair (rent is 250 lek.) – there’s plenty of room for stretching out without bumping into others.

7. LIVADHI BEACH (HIMARE, ALBANIA)

Base yourself here

The beach in Himara centre can be a bit crowded (for Albania). Instead, head to Livadhi, which is about 3km north of town. It’s a white stone beach with hills nearby and great for swimming. Himarë is a great place to base yourself while exploring the riviera – it’s close to the other beaches and it’s got several stunning beaches in walking distance.

Himare Hotels

Miamar Hotel – this five-star hotel is right on Livadhi beach with a small private beach section. Two outdoor pools and squeaky clean and ultra-modern rooms. Click here to see the latest prices.

8. JALA BEACH

Crystal clear water beach

Jala beach is also referred to as “Glass Beach” for its crystal clear waters. Let’s just say that it lives up to its name. It can get a little crowded for Albanian standards, but it still doesn’t come close to what you’ll find inCroatiaor Greece.

Dhërmi Hotels

ALBANIAN FOOD ON THE RIVIERA (YUUM)

A trip to the Albanian riviera isn’t really complete until you’ve indulged in seafood. And the best part? It’s so incredibly cheap. A main meal is no more than $9, a bottle of wine $7 and beer is $1.7.

Here are a few great restaurants along the Albanian riviera:

Ksamil:Guvat; a lovely restaurant with a terrace that offers gorgeous views over the islands.

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE BEACHES IN ALBANIA

One last tip. Exploring the beaches makes summer the best time to visit the riviera, of course. However, if you want to enjoy the beaches without the “crowds”, but don’t want to be the only one there either – head for the shoulder seasons.

June, July and September are the best months to visit.

Are you going to the Albanian Riviera? Do you have any questions?

★ Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. As always, I only recommend products and services I trust.

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I’m a Danish traveler and fearless adventurer (sort of). I write about how you can step out of your comfort zone and spark more adventure into your life.